Ephesus and around.

Ephesus is Turkey's blockbuster site and the largest Roman ruin in the world. It is easy here to imagine what a wonderful city it would have been.

First off, Judith feeds the cats of Ephesus.

Our excellent guide for the tour Rashid, hamming it up. He was so interesting - an economics/history Professor at Istanbul's university, a writer of three books on Turkey and also a published poet. Apart from that he was a very organised leader. We were lucky!

Ephesus is the best preserved classical city in the eastern Mediterranean. It became the Roman provincial capital.

The Odeon, a small theatre dating from AD 150 and used for musical performances and meetings of the town council.

The two storied Gate of Hercules constructed in in the 4th Century AD, with reliefs of Hercules on both main columns.

Relief of Nike, God of Victory and running shoes.

Curetes Way, leading to the Library of Celsus.

The Fountain of Trajan (102-104 AD ).

Temple of Hadrian dedicated in AD118.

Beautiful frieze on the porch of the temple.

Communal Roman men's toilets. Slaves were sent to warm up the seats in winter.

In front of the Library of Celsus. This library was erected by the son of Celsus Polemaeanus, the Roman Governor of Asia Minor, after his death in 114 AD. Celsus was buried there. The library held 12,000 scrolls in notches around it's walls.

The 110 square metre agora (marketplace). It would have been full of shops selling food and craft items.

The Great Theatre was constructed by the Romans in the 2nd Century. The cavea (seating area) is capable of holding 25,000 people.

Elle sang again and had all the tourists from far and near captivated. The acoustics were fantastic.

Looking down the marble paved Harbour St, the grandest street in Ephesus. It would have been lined with fine statues and lit by oil lamps at night. It had a gymnasium, baths and shops and also had water and sewerage channels underneath the flagstones.

Meryemana (Mary's House). People believe that Mary came to Ephesus with St John towads the end of her life and that she lived in this house. It is now a chapel and crowds of pilgrims come here.

The Basilica of St John, erected by Emperor Justinian. It is also a pilgrimage site.

The Tomb of St John?

Later that day Judith and Bill enjoyed a coffee on the sea front at Izmir.

Joy and Chris with the new favourite, apple tea.